Google and T-Mobile announce hot new smart phone, the myTouch 3G with Google
I have to tell you, I do not get impressed with phones very often. The last time I really saw a phone that sparked my imagination was when the first Iphone came out, and before that it was the Blackberry. But, I gotta say, this myTouch 3G with Google is interesting if nothing else but the fact that finally, after all my nagging and bitching, finally, a manufacturer has made a phone to compete with the Iphone.
The myTouch 3G is and extension of the Google product line that was started last year with the G1. Unfortunately, even though that was a great phone (read my article), it failed dismally in the marketplace. T-Mobile did a terrible job of marketing what could have been a true Iphone competitor, and now, hardly anyone even knows what the G1 is outside of the tech geek world, whereas Apple continues to sell millions (yes millions) of Iphones every year. I hate to say it, but since they will not listen to me, the myTouch will probably share the same fate. It is unfortunate, because it really is a cool phone.
The myTouch will be made by HTC, which has had a long line of great phones, but has suffered from a plethora of bad marketing. How many of you even knew HTC stood for High Tech Computers? See my point? It is too bad, because this device really could be their breakthrough. Of all the phones I have seen in the last few years, the Touch series really do have the best form factors (size and shape) of any phones out there. I used the Sprint version about a year ago, and it really performed well too.
Thankfully, the myTouch with Google is not just the Sprint phone with T-Mobile printed on it. It will have the Google “interface” or operating system powering it. I really liked the Google system on the G1, as it was easy to use, intuitive, and had the all important marketplace where you could download applications, much like the Iphone, with the exception that most of the aps were free on the G1. The myTouch follows up on this and even adds on the previous version, with more aps slated to hit the market.
The myTouch will have the ability to do widgets and applications, much like the online experience, so you can really customize it the way you want it. That is one of the real benefits of the myTouch, personalization. If you are one of the people that like to have your own special ringtones, wallpapers, applications, and programs, this phone might interest you. It also has a learning feature that is supposed to get to know your favorite preferences in search, and recommend things that might interest you. This builds off of Google’s database, and may be a benefit to some, while annoying and worrying others that may not want all their information shared with Google.
As far as the myTouch itself, I really liked that it is smaller than the G1, and has a much nicer form factor. Still not what I suggest, but getting better. As far as touchscreens go, it does pretty well. All the Google aps are pretty easy to bring up, that was good on the G1 as well. Text messaging and typing can be a chore, but then again, it is with any touchscreen. If touchscreens are not your thing, the myTouch pro which will be out later this year may help, as it will have a keyboard.
If you are an Android fan, you may really like this phone. It is smaller and easier to carry, has extended battery life (we all know what problems the G1 had with that), and a lot of neat little upgrades like the voice application feature that lets you speak your words instead of typing them. Worked pretty good for me. Try the phone out and I think you will see, it is maybe not going to shut Apple down, but it may get people interested in some competition again.
